These applications often also say the goods and services covered are domain registration services, rather than registry services.

But last week the USPTO “took back” the registration (albeit on the supplemental register) for .bank as well as for .secure. In a letter to the applicant, the USPTO wrote:

The imminent expansion of available generic TLDs underscores the consumer perception that TLDs used in connection with domain name registration services should be perceived as TLDs rather than as source indicators.

You can’t get a TM on any phrase unless you’ve had it in the public eye, as a productive service, for five years within your “country” – although it normally extends worldwide. The paperwork with the USPTO is just the final completion of the five year usage of your name. I’m not an atty, so I recommend everyone contact a TM atty for all the legal qualitifications.

However, my policy on listing any domain I own, immediately upon a site buildout (which is why I love Whypark, now “DomainApps.com”). This shows you are monetizing the name, places your name on a global visibility, and gives cause to any corporation wanting to “reverse hijack” it.

My non legal opinion and from experience, It’s a strong strategic move, and gives you a foundation to hold on to your domain.